Junior Olympic sailing regatta at beach this weekend

More than 250 youth sailors from as far away as New Jersey and Ohio will compete in the waters off Fort Myers Beach Oct. 20-21 in the annual Beach Romp Sailing Regatta. The multi-class regatta is a Junior Olympic competition sanctioned by United States Sailing.

About 20 members of the Edison Sailing Center in Fort Myers will represent Lee County in the competition, which begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Holiday Inn on Fort Myers Beach. The two-day competition will continue at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21.

Sailors ranging in age from 7 to 17 will compete in International Optimist, Sunfish, Club 420, Laser Full, Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 classes. US Sailing officials will attend the event to watch up-and-coming young sailors. Some Optimist National Team members are expected to compete. The Beach Romp Sailing Regatta is the second largest youth regatta in Florida and one of 22 Junior Olympic sanctioned events for the 2007-2008 sailing season.

"The Florida sailing community looks forward to visiting Lee County each year for this regatta," says Steve Olive, event organizer and head coach of the Edison Sailing Center Racing Team.

The sailing is visible from the beach at the south end of Estero Island, near the Holiday Inn. For more information about the regatta, visit www.edisonsailingcenter.org